The Bard's Bargain Series by Vanessa Green

Every day they traveled further and further from everything she had ever known, and each day she felt the weight of this year descending upon her. There were no guards to escort her through the woods, no physicians to summon, no servants standing by. If she screamed for help, would anyone come to her aid?War has festered in the split kingdoms of Norwen and Lenwen for a generation... moreEvery day they traveled further and further from everything she had ever known, and each day she felt the weight of this year descending upon her. There were no guards to escort her through the woods, no physicians to summon, no servants standing by. If she screamed for help, would anyone come to her aid?War has festered in the split kingdoms of Norwen and Lenwen for a generation. When the Princess Alexandra of Lenwen rejects all of the suitors at her debut she angers kings, princes, and her own formidable mother. As punishment for her pride, the queen strips the princess of her title and forces her to live in poverty with the lowliest commoner she can a young bard named Tom. If she can live the life of a commoner for a full year, she will be able to return to the palace and gain the coveted position of regent. Alexandra journeys with the bard to the neighboring kingdom of Norwen, realm of the suitor she spurned, and is faced with the harsh reality of life with a poor bard. For the first time in her life, she must learn to care for someone other than herself, or else face loneliness and starvation. Despite the constant hardship, Alexandra finds herself drawn to the handsome, lighthearted Tom, until she is faced with the choice to return to her old life as a princess and end the war once and for all. A retelling of King Thrushbeard filled with pride, betrayal, and an unexpected love story. less

The magical sequel to The Bard’s Bargain.Living alone at the edge of the forest, Angharad has made a quiet life for herself as the village hedgewitch, offering healing spells while still haunted by the traumatic memories of her past. When Angharad finds a strange man on the brink of death near her home, she nurses him to health only to find that he is the son of the man who captured her mother so many years ago.Gideon Falk has never trusted witches... moreThe magical sequel to The Bard’s Bargain.Living alone at the edge of the forest, Angharad has made a quiet life for herself as the village hedgewitch, offering healing spells while still haunted by the traumatic memories of her past. When Angharad finds a strange man on the brink of death near her home, she nurses him to health only to find that he is the son of the man who captured her mother so many years ago.Gideon Falk has never trusted witches. When he wakes in a witch’s home after being poisoned and nearly killed, he is desperate to leave and never look back. But he develops an interest that verges on obsession for the alluring Angharad, and when he learns of her tragic past, he offers his help and protection in her quest to find her mother.Soon Angharad discovers how prejudice, greed, and corruption have transformed the kingdom she once called home. Magic still lives on in the city, and Angharad will need to face her fears across multiple dimensions, or else risk being captured herself.This is a fantasy romance that contains adult material including explicit intimate scenes, strong language, and violence.Trigger This story contains sensitive subject matter such as mention of infertility and implied domestic partner abuse. less